Meet the District Attorney

Scott grew up in Placer County, graduated from Colfax High School and attended Sacramento State College receiving his degree in Criminal Justice, and later attended McGeorge School of Law, graduating in 1989.

Scott Owens has dedicated most of his adult life to working in law enforcement. Beginning in 1983, Scott accepted a position with the Placer County Probation Department. After seven years with the Probation Department, and completing his Bachelor’s Degree and Law Degree, Scott accepted a position with the Placer County District Attorney’s Office in 1990.

Scott has been with the Placer County District Attorney’s Office for the past 20 years, and he has seen many changes take place in our Criminal Justice System. During his time with the District Attorney’s Office he has prosecuted all aspects of criminal cases, including jury trials, court trials, preliminary hearings, motions and other contested issues. He has been responsible for prosecuting felonies, and misdemeanors, including, homicide, three strikes, elder abuse, domestic violence, gang offenses, property crimes and drug offenses. As a Deputy District Attorney, he successfully tried the case of People v. Kidwell, the first three strikes case to be tried in Placer County. He also prosecuted People v. Townsend one of the earlier “High Tech” case’s, and People v. Eggen, the Colfax bombing case that made national headlines in 1995.

Owens supervised the Roseville Office of the Placer County District Attorney from 1996-1998, and was overseeing that office during the consolidation process with the Auburn Office. He currently resides in Colfax with his wife, and two children.

In 1998, Scott was selected by his peers to receive the prestigious “Prosecutor of the Year Award”, following his successful prosecution of a high profile carjacking, kidnapping, bank robbery, homicide case.

Scott served in the District Attorney’s Family Protection Unit for three years with an emphasis on prosecution of physical abuse and domestic violence.

During his work with the District Attorney’s Office he has been a teacher at Sierra College, Police Academy, instructed and made presentations to local law enforcement and the community regarding the investigation, prosecution and prevention of the many crimes of Elder Abuse.